The filler that’s in 70 percent of medication

For most of my life, I’ve been diligently navigating the challenges of being lactose intolerant. Avoiding dairy was never just a dietary preference; it was a necessity, the key to avoiding unpleasant and sometimes severe digestive issues. Imagine my shock and frustration when, after two years of unexplained symptoms, I discovered that a medication I was taking contained lactose – an oversight that highlighted the critical importance of thorough medical screening for allergies.

The journey began when I was prescribed a new medication by my doctor. Trusting in the expertise of my healthcare provider and overwhelmed by my own health issues, I didn’t think to check the ingredients of the pills I was prescribed. After all, who expects their medication to contain something as commonly avoided as lactose?

Over the course of taking this medication, I began to experience a series of inexplicable and worsening symptoms: relentless headaches, chronic stomach pain, bouts of constipation, and an overall feeling of inflammation that seemed to center in my stomach and small intestine. These were more than just minor inconveniences; they were significantly impacting my quality of life.

Initially, I sought help from various specialists, including a gastroenterologist, hoping for an explanation. The gastroenterologist diagnosed me with a generic ‘stomach inflammation’ and treated me accordingly. Despite these treatments, my symptoms persisted, and deep down, something didn’t feel right. The treatments, rather than providing relief, seemed only to mask a deeper issue. My body was telling me something was wrong, but my medical support network hadn’t pinpointed the cause.

Driven by frustration and pain, I started researching more about my symptoms and possible links to any new changes in my life, which included the medication. One night, driven by a mix of desperation and intuition, I decided to look up the contents of my medication online. To my utter disbelief, one of the inactive ingredients listed was lactose.

This discovery was a pivotal moment for me. I immediately contacted my pharmacist to confirm the presence of lactose in my medication. The pharmacist confirmed my findings, and I was stunned. For two years, I had been ingesting small amounts of an ingredient that my body could not tolerate. This revelation explained so much about why my health had been deteriorating rather than improving.

The next steps involved discussions with my healthcare providers about this oversight. It was a wake-up call for everyone involved in my care. The oversight in prescribing a lactose-containing medication to a lactose-intolerant patient highlighted a significant gap in the management of my healthcare. It underscored the critical importance of healthcare providers thoroughly screening and understanding their patients’ allergies and intolerances before prescribing medication.

This experience taught me several valuable lessons. First and foremost, it reminded me of the importance of self-advocacy in the healthcare system. As patients, we must actively participate in our health care, ask questions, and do our own research when necessary. It’s crucial to review not just the active ingredients but also the inactive ingredients of any medication.

Second, this incident has shown me the importance of communication between patient and healthcare provider. Patients should feel empowered to discuss potential allergies and adverse reactions with their doctors, and both parties should work together to ensure that all aspects of a patient’s health, including their known allergies, are considered in treatment plans.

Lastly, my ordeal has motivated me to spread awareness about the often-overlooked details in medication ingredients that can have significant impacts on patients with specific dietary restrictions. It is a call to action for the healthcare industry to enhance their patient intake processes and for pharmaceutical companies to clearly label products that might contain common allergens. In sharing my story, I hope to empower others to take control of their health care. Ask questions, double-check everything, and always listen to your body. No one knows your body better than you do, and your voice is the most powerful tool you have in your healthcare journey.